Compact Objects from Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking

TL;DR

This paper develops a symmetry-based effective field theory for compact objects like black holes and neutron stars, capturing their key physical properties without extra degrees of freedom, aiding gravitational wave analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a covariant worldline EFT for compact objects derived from symmetry principles, encompassing mass, spin, charge, and size effects within Einstein-Maxwell theory.

Findings

Derived all covariant operators for the EFT

Unified description of black holes and neutron stars

Clarified symmetry breaking patterns in compact objects

Abstract

Gravitational waves from merging compact objects provides the opportunity to explore the properties of black holes and neutron stars in the strong regime of gravity. It is therefore of interest to explore the theoretical model that accurately describes them. Using the coset construction, we build a worldline Effective Field Theory that is derived from symmetry principles, does not involve additional degrees of freedom, and describes the most general compact object allowed in an effective Einstein-Maxwell vierbein theory. Such extended object can be described by its mass, spin, charge and size effects: tides, polarization and dissipation. By recognizing the symmetry breaking pattern, we derive all the covariant building blocks and constraints to build up the relevant invariant operators in the action to all orders. The developed theory elucidates the description of compact objects as an Effective Field Theory.